Context
India is ahead of several countries in drafting a legal framework in order to support the implementation of the ‘One Health’ initiative.
About
- It is an included, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
- It acknowledges that the health of humans, home and wild animals, flora, and the broader environment (inclusive of ecosystems) are closely related and interdependent.
Need of One Health in India
- Zoonotic Diseases: India faces tremendous challenges from zoonotic diseases which includes rabies, leptospirosis, and avian influenza.
- These diseases can spread among animals and humans, highlighting the want for incorporated surveillance and manage measures involving both human and animal health sectors.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): India has high charges of antimicrobial resistance due to the vast use of antibiotics in human healthcare, veterinary medicine, and agriculture.
- One Health procedures are critical to mitigate AMR by promoting responsible antibiotic use throughout all sectors.
- Livestock and Agriculture: Agriculture and livestock farming are major economic sectors in India.
- One Health strategy can ensure sustainable agricultural practices that promote animal welfare, reduce disease transmission, and enhance food security.
- Emerging Infectious Diseases: India, like many countries, faces threats from emerging infectious diseases along with COVID-19.
- These diseases often originate at the human-animal-environment interface, underscoring the significance of early detection, rapid response, and collaborative efforts between health sectors.
India’s Steps
- The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in its 21st meeting, accredited to installation a National One Health Mission with a move-ministerial effort so as to serve to coordinate, help, and combine all the existing One Health activities inside the country and fill gaps where it is suitable.
- Mandate of the Centre for One Health (CoH): CoH is working in coordination with all stakeholders to promote health and quality of life by challenging activities important for prevention and control of Zoonotic Diseases with the “One Health” approach.
- G-20: During India’s presidency of the G-20, “One Health was extensively advocated by using all the contributors to paintings collectively in particular areas which includes building higher surveillance ability and so on.
- National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR): India released the NAP-AMR in 2017 to cope with antimicrobial resistance throughout human health, animal health, and environmental sectors.
- National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): The NCDC plays a key function in diseases surveillance and reaction in India, along with zoonotic diseases.
- It collaborates with animal health groups which includes the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries (DAHDF).
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP): IDSP monitors disease outbreaks across India and includes zoonotic diseases in its surveillance efforts, thereby promoting a One Health approach in disease tracking.
Way Ahead
- To gain all the benefits of a One Health approach, India must move past quick-time period collaborations and create an incorporated, technology-based totally environment.
- India has combatted several zoonotic diseases and has a strong institutional community for biomedical studies that can lead and operationalize the One Health approach.
- For One Health Science, it’s crucial to broaden databases and models with a consolidated approach of ecologists, subject biologists, epidemiologists, and different scientists.
- Therefore, a nexus of technology, social science, indigenous information, and coverage at national, state, and local ranges can put forward strategies and establishments for the implementation of One Health.
Source: The PIB
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. One Health approach is ever more relevant as the world is facing new health crises. Comment.
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